Thursday, September 25, 2008

Cambodia-Thailand negotiations: Neither Hun Sen nor Hor Nam Hong will travel to New York

Phnom Penh (Cambodia), 24 September 2008: Prime minister Hun Sen press conference following the opening session of the National Assembly (Photo: John Vink, Magnum)

24 Sept. 2008
By Duong Sokha
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Outside of the NA inaugural session on Wednesday 24 September, Prime minister Hun Sen expressed his displeasure to the journalists present about articles published in local and foreign media indicating that he would travel to New York this week to participate at the UN General Assembly. “These are information published without being checked!” an indignant Hun Sen said while adding that he also reprimanded Hun Mana, his daughter and director of the Bayon TV channel, and her deputy on this issue.

“Let’s be logical, Samdech Hun Sen must take part in the first NA meeting, in the formation of the new government, and in the first meeting of the Council of ministers. Even H.E. Hor Nam Hong [the Cambodian Foreign minister] cannot travel to go there. We will send to New York two secretaries of state from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the meeting of the ASEAN Foreign ministers, and to the unavoidable meeting between the Cambodian and Thai parties.”

He stressed that, following the nomination of Somchai Wongsawat, on Thursday 18 September, to the PM position, he called the latter to congratulate him.

“In reality, even if there is a border conflict, no shot was exchanged. The situation is less tense than it was last July,” Hun Sen added.

“Some are wondering why we are not conduction warfare between each other. It’s because this is not the way to resolve a border dispute, this requires that we are arming ourselves with a lot of patience. However, if we are attacked, we will resist with force. But, I am persuaded that, in the 21st Century, our neighbor will not dare use force to resolve this problem, and neither do we.”

Again, Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia had solid legal arguments in this territorial conflict, such as the Franco-Siamese map which was accepted through agreements between the two parties in 1904 and 1907, the agreement protocol signed in 2000 by the two neighboring countries, or the decision handed down by The Hague International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962.

We will call on the UN Security Council for intervention only in case of war. If the negotiations fail, we will bring our complaints to the ICJ,” Hun Sen declared.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes men, 3 of you are cpp thaicong,anybody know how island cambodia exist? or become vietsiem island ? land still 181035 ? How about khmer sea ?

Anonymous said...

Please Cambodian in East cost check out the snipers ,to shot and keep Hun Sen soul here ,it might be the huge releasing stress and debt from VIET CONG that HUN OWED them and pay back with the land and hard working money from Cambodian people.Laos in Modesto California can why not ours Khmer???????????????????????????????

Anonymous said...

SRP betrayed Kem Sokha and the people to attend the NA meeting. The public sees clearly who is a better man, it's clear that Rainsy is not a man of his words, he has no integrity.

By the way, it was Rainsy and Eng Chhay Eang who went to Kith Meng's house and Kith Meng gave them money and demanded that SRP join the NA meeting on the 24th. SRP has been taking money from Kith Meng, so he has to listen to Kith Meng's demand.

Sam Rainsy has alway negotiated with CPP through the backdoor. You idiotic supporters of SRP do not know anything. SRP has taken a lot of money from Kith Meng and Eng Chhay Eang is the person to mediate between CPP and SRP all these times. That's why Rainsy can never disagree with Eng Chhay Eang because he brings money to SRP. YOu stupid supporters living in abroad means nothing to Rainsy or SRP, he only listens to Eng Chhay Eang.

Get your facts straight.

Anonymous said...

they have representative, don't they? the cambodian UN ambassador will be there. god bless.

Anonymous said...

To all Khmers,

Now you all should know that all Khmers leaders and politicians are all about the POWER! All they care about is a piece of pie. Not a single one of them will atten the border dispute with Ah Siamese cat. What a shame!
Maybe one day, Phnom Penh will be the only territory for Cambodia.

All the new generation, please study hard, and develop Cambodia. We don't have much time less to spare. We have the most evil neighbors and power greedy leaders to destroy her.

Take care,
Khmer Central New York

Anonymous said...

"We (Hun Xen) will send to New York two secretaries of state from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the meeting of the ASEAN Foreign ministers, and to the unavoidable meeting between the Cambodian and Thai parties.”

-So what if Cambodian officials can't avoid the meeting with Thai official but Cambodian official can always refuse to talk or discuss any border issue with the Thai officials! Any further discussion or talking about the border issue at New York with the Thai officials is pure distraction!

At New York, the world should hear Cambodian officials regarding Thailand in violation of Cambodian sovereignty!

Anonymous said...

That is not how the Thai see it.

Anonymous said...

Yeah! Sent two of your scapegoat to New York so they can failed miserably. Stupid PM, always a step behind his people. Sometime you have to literally remind him like a kid,.... think before you talk. Otherwise, he blurt out profanity.